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Dynamics of the middle atmosphere
Author(s) -
Schoeberl Mark R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg025i003p00501
Subject(s) - stratosphere , atmosphere (unit) , mesosphere , extratropical cyclone , general circulation model , atmospheric physics , gravity wave , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , geology , climatology , physics , environmental science , gravitational wave , astronomy , climate change , oceanography
This review summarizes middle atmosphere (stratosphere and mesosphere) research in the United States over a period from October 1982 to May 1986. Some important relevant works by foreign investigators are also included. Previous work is summarized in the IUGG report by Hartmann (1983). The reference list encompasses the relevant work although each individual paper may not be discussed in the text. The research topics discussed here cover all scales of motion in the stratosphere and mesosphere except for acoustic phenomena. The categories are: extratropical wave motions and instabilities (e.g., planetary to medium scale waves), gravity waves, tropical motions, the general circulation of the middle atmosphere and constituent transport where dynamically significant. These categories are not definitive. Nonetheless, this division of motion fields roughly follows historical precedence and the scaling approximations used in dynamical meteorology.